Day of the Dead (Nov 1st.) Guide

Day of the Dead is today in Azeroth--it only lasts one day and serves as an awesome minor holiday, similar to Pirates' Day, to close out Hallow's End. We've whipped up a small guide so you can know the quests and achievement for the event; make sure you don't skip out if you're an achievement hunter, as it boasts one achievement that can't be obtained any other day of the year!

Getting Started

To take part in the events festivities, you must first locate Catrina, an undead female (and a reference to La Calavera Catrina), who can be found near the graveyard of any capital city. She will give you some information regarding the holiday itself, and it is most important that you remember to /dance with her--upon doing so, you will earn the only achievement for this holiday, Dead Man's Party. You will also gain the buff Honor the Dead, which will change you into either Catrina or her male counterpart, Chapman, for twelve hours.

Quests

The only quest available during the event is The Grateful Dead, and this quest can only be completed once. The quest will only be available at your race's home city unless you have access to Shattrath City or Dalaran where the quest can be completed by any race/faction. So taurens complete the quest for Thunder Bluff, Orcs for Orgrimmar, and so on.

In order to obtain this quest, you must first purchase either an Orange Marigold or a Bouquet of Orange Marigolds from Chapman, the vendor located near Catrina at any city graveyard. The difference between the two items is that one is a single-use consumed item that will only last the duration of the event while the other is a re-usable permanent offhand, though its use will only function during the event as well (similar to Noblegarden's Egg Basket).

Use the flower at any city graveyard to allow your character to see the cheerful spirit remaining there. The spirit will offer you the quest, The Grateful Dead, requesting that you bring the spirit an offering of food--in this case, Bread of the Dead (or Pan de Muerto). The Bread of the Dead recipe requires 1 Cooking skill to learn, and the recipe can be purchased from the graveyard vendor Chapman. Simply whip up a batch of tasty bread and bring it to the cheerful spirit.

You will be rewarded with a temporary pet, the Macabre Marionette--an awesome skeleton pet wearing a sombrero and wielding maracas! However, for some completely absurd reason, this pet can only be used during the Day of the Dead event; it cannot be learned and kept like other companion pets--meaning it's a pet that only lasts two days. This renders the Marionette almost entirely useless, which is a shame as it's a very cute pet.

Comment by Znuff

Comment by Ashelia

It's available once per year, for one day. It's actually one of the rarest ones even if it takes little work because of this fact... So yes, it's super rare =)

Comment by Adamsm

on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 23:52:01 -0500

Aw, they still didn't fix the pet?

Comment by Ashelia

on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 23:55:03 -0500

Aw, they still didn't fix the pet?

They haven't the past few years, we'll see this year... sadly I don't play on EU realms =\"

Comment by groovz

on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:06:57 -0500

With the Exception of removed recipes such as Dirge's Kickin Chimera Chops and Sporeling Snacks this one Recipe Bread of the Dead is most likely the rarest and most difficult recipe to get because of the 24 hour event and will likely be the key to many players getting the 200 recipe achievement when it starts....Personally I'm at 198/200 with the 1 alliance recipe roasted moongraze tenderloin and this one left to get :)

Comment by Melilithia

on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:56:56 -0500

Sweet! Can't wait to get the stuff on this day. ^-^

Comment by Suggestions

on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 01:08:55 -0500

2 hours to go and I'm waiting at the GY.

I don't even need the recipe or achievement. I think all I need is a life.

Comment by Charlesifer

on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 02:09:05 -0500

Aw man! I want that pet to be permanent so bad.. I guess a rare achieve and recipe are good. It doesn't sound like too much work. I want it to start right now but have to wait 4 hours! :(

Comment by Barleduq

on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 03:14:22 -0500

I've got three of my toons waiting with the ingredients, and am working on the fourth. And then there are the other servers that I have toons on... *Who* needs a life? :D

I just wish I got to keep my broom. It's too much fun to be riding the broom and having the pet cat on its own broom.

Comment by Milim

on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 03:24:40 -0500

Just a reminder for those that have done this before, the SW graveyard is now behind the cathedral not just up from goldshire as it used to be. All appropriate NPC's are near the back, just over from Varien's wifes tomb.

Comment by oedura

on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 03:29:40 -0500

Yeah, Marionette is still temporary. :(

Comment by rosemwelch

on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 03:41:52 -0500

To quote Incadog:

In Darnassus, she is inside the city walls.In Exodar, she is outside the city, just south of Azure Watch.In Stormwind, she is outside the city, by Goldshire. So watch your money-pouches and don't look anyone in the eye.In Ironforge, she is just outside the gates of the city, take a hard left (south) and follow the small path.

In Silvermoon, she is outside the city, far west along the wall.In Orgrimmar, she is outside the city walls. Just follow the main road out for a few seconds and you'll see the graveyard just off the road (east).In Thunder Bluff, she is just north of the northern elevators (ground level).In Undercity, she is up in the Ruins of Lordaeron area, outside.

In Shattrath, she is outside the city (east) in Terokkar Forest. (Take the exit by the orphanage)In Dalaran, she is floating on a skull-shaped rock outside the city... No? Sorry! Just kidding. She's to the right of the Violet Citadel steps.

Comment by hakwea

on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 03:43:26 -0500

"Super Rare Achievement"? Seriously?

It's available once per year, for one day. It's actually one of the rarest ones even if it takes little work because of this fact... So yes, it's super rare =)

it is actually around for two days

Comment by iJenny

on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 03:49:09 -0500

I love the marigold.

Comment by Alja

on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:19:29 -0500

To quote Incadog:

In Darnassus, she is inside the city walls.In Exodar, she is outside the city, just south of Azure Watch.In Stormwind, she is outside the city, by Goldshire. So watch your money-pouches and don't look anyone in the eye.In Ironforge, she is just outside the gates of the city, take a hard left (south) and follow the small path.

In Silvermoon, she is outside the city, far west along the wall.In Orgrimmar, she is outside the city walls. Just follow the main road out for a few seconds and you'll see the graveyard just off the road (east).In Thunder Bluff, she is just north of the northern elevators (ground level).In Undercity, she is up in the Ruins of Lordaeron area, outside.

In Shattrath, she is outside the city (east) in Terokkar Forest. (Take the exit by the orphanage)In Dalaran, she is floating on a skull-shaped rock outside the city... No? Sorry! Just kidding. She's to the right of the Violet Citadel steps.

Actually this year in Stormwind she is located inside the city walls at the new graveyard - coords are approximately 47/26

Comment by Nulgar

on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:51:31 -0500

Goblins get the quest outside of Orgrimmar, like Orcs and Trolls. I'd guess Worgen need to go to Darnassus.

Comment by Anunvilya

on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 05:53:55 -0500

I think a lot people dont even know there is a quest

Comment by alkrm

on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 05:57:35 -0500

Aw man! I want that pet to be permanent so bad.. I guess a rare achieve and recipe are good. It doesn't sound like too much work. I want it to start right now but have to wait 4 hours! :(

agree, pet should be permanent

Comment by Goopaz

on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 07:20:54 -0500

Thing looks great, use the flower from the vendor to get the quest.

Comment by Geline

on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 07:35:37 -0500

Much as I would selfishly love to have all noncombat pets be made permanent, in this case I can't agree that the ephemeral nature of the Macabre Marionette is a bug to be fixed.

Blizzard has beautifully realized a traditional holiday celebrated worldwide: for one brief joyous time each year, we honor and commune with the spirits of our departed loved ones. When that time has passed, we put away our memorabilia and carry on with our lives - until next year.

Someone more learned than I could probably go into the psychosocioanthropological underpinnings of the holiday, but for me: I wouldn't want to shlep around a tiny skeletal reminder of my father all year 'round!